Before the pandemic happened, Fan Meetings are part of the regular schedules of Hallyu artists in Korea โ both Kpop idols and Kdrama stars. While we are waiting for things to go back to normal, here is a detailed guide for foreigners on how to attend fan meetings in Korea.
What to Expect
Fan meetings in Korea are more interactive compare to concerts. Usually, there are fun games, interview, special performances and surprise guests. If you want to know more about how they do fan meetings in Korea and what to expect, I detailed it here.
How to Buy Fan Meeting Ticket
Buying of ticket for fan meetings in Korea can be stressful particularly if the Hallyu artist or group that you would like to watch has a huge fanbase in Korea. Sometimes, the tickets could sell out fast in a minute. Also, you will be competing with fellow fans around the globe to get the best possible seat so make sure to set your alarm once the tickets go on sale and have your details ready for the payment section.
There are different websites where you can buy tickets for fan meetings in Korea and it vary per event. These are some of the most commonly used ticketing sites where you can buy purchase.
Most of these websites have English version so it is easy for foreigners to make an account and buy from there.
There will be instances when you can also buy at the venue if there are still available seats. However, note that buying at the venue on the day itself may not be the wisest thing to do if you want have good seats with the best view.
Similar to buying ticket for concerts in Korea, there are usually two rounds of ticket selling: the Pre-selling for Official Fan Club Members and the Regular Selling.
Pre-selling for Official Fan Club Members
This period is for those who are member of the official fan club of the featured artist(s). They usually announce a registration period when you must enter your membership details such as ID number and birthday. Then the ticketing site will validate your account and qualify you for the pre-selling. Most of the time, you can only buy 1 ticket per verified ID.
Regular Selling
Whatever is left from the pre-selling period will be available for reservation for the general public. During this period, you can usually buy up to 2 to 4 tickets per ID. But again, it depends on the policy of the concert organizer.
If you end up not buying seats, there are ticket resellers online but they sell it usually double or triple the price. And make sure that they are legit sellers before giving your money as some fans have had bad experiences on this. If possible, request for a meet up where you could personally exchange the ticket and the payment.
Ticket Cost
The cost of fan meetings in Korea depends on the featured artists. But normally, it is relatively cheaper compare to fan meetings outside Korea. It is usually because in Korea, they donโt usually add special perks like hi-touch or photo session. Moreover, since fan meeting venue is usually smaller than concert venue, the cost is either flat across all seats or there is a very minimal difference, if any. The ticket price ranges from 40,000 to 100,000 Korean won.
On a tight budget? Donโt worry as there are other FREE ways to see Kpop idols in Korea, click here.
Things to Remember
- Normally, there are no standing area and all of the attendees are seated so feel free to wear your preferred clothes and shoes as you will not have to stand for hours.
- Bring your ticket. If you havenโt claimed it yet, you can claim it at the venue on the day itself. Note that foreigners must have a passport or ARC to claim the ticket. The credit card number and cardholder name used on the online transaction should also be the same as your ID.
- Do not use professional camera in taking photos or videos. Usually, they allow the use of mobile phones.
- Be kind and polite to your fellow fans and the event staff.
- Bring your light sticks and banners but do not raise them too high or all the time as you might block other personโs view.
- Respect the artistโs personal space.
- Enjoy and donโt worry if you end up crying during the show. Your fangirl / fanboy feels are valid!
If you find this article interesting and helpful, share it with your friends. For more Korea travel tips like this, subscribe to KoreabyMe and read my other published articles on the site. You can follow me on Instagram too!
